A Hull law firm has been voted the best in the UK for enhancing the skills and abilities of its staff.

SJP Law won the Best Employee Engagement Initiative at the prestigious LawNet Awards beating off competition from law firms across the country.

Chris Marston, Chief Executive of LawNet, in presenting the award, said: “SJP Law has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to its people. Its ‘one firm culture’ is focused on ensuring all staff, at every level, are given the opportunity to realise their full potential.

Its latest initiative has taken a whole department through a cultural shift, using targeted personal development to enhance the reputation of the division, and each of the individuals within it, to bring about a new approach to work generation.

Judges were impressed by initiatives to broaden employee skills, particularly in business development, and increasing confidence and well being of all staff.

SJP Law introduced a development programme which encouraged employees to reach out into the community to work as volunteers with local charities to build on their networking skills while helping their favourite causes.

SJP Law Chairman Simon Gittings said:

We are extremely proud that the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm of our staff to learn new skills and techniques has resulted in national acclaim for our firm.

“We launched our new employee engagement initiative only last year and the results have been clear to see with colleagues displaying greater confidence and new found skills to engage effectively with existing and prospective clients.

“This has not only resulted in an increase in the support we provide to local charities but we have also been able to increase commercial opportunities as a result.”

SJP Law was one of the first law firms in Britain to be accredited as an Investor in People.

Mr Gittings added:

The firm has been serving the people of Hull and East Yorkshire for more than 160 years and this award is further recognition of the innovative management thinking that has kept us at the forefront of legal services throughout that time.